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We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time. Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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Newsfeed > James's Profile
James's family
James
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
71
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
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Follow to be updated on James's next check-in.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to use my transfer to buy a calf as an investment for these transfers. When the calf will be fully grown and reproduces, I will have herds of cattle which is a source of wealth. I prefer cows because their values increase on a daily basis unlike other forms of investments.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
My family has grown ever since I built my current house. As a result, we can not all spend in my house together with my children because there is limited space. If we have to sleep in the house everyone, then I have to take some of my properties outside which is very risky because they can be stolen. This is why I resolved to talk to my neighbour to allow my children to sleep at his place as I look to solve the issue. This has been going on for the last year and I always feel I am putting my children at risk when they walk at night to find sleeping place. When I started receiving my transfers, I started paying for building materials such as iron sheets, nails and timber bit by bit. When I had the required materials, I used them to put up a small kitchen where my children also sleep. Right now I feel at peace because I sleep close to my children and they don't have to walk for long at night to find where to sleep.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I want to ensure my family have enough food in the house. This has been my major worry because we have had to miss several meals in our family so as to meet other family needs. I would want to improve on this by ensuring we have enough food always in store for the family. I will always budget on a monthly basis so that my children cannot miss what to eat when they come back from school.
 
19th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Currently, my life is different from how it was in that, I am always hopeful and less miserable in life. I get my monthly transfers which enable me to meet most of my goals and take care of my daily needs. Previously, I would hardly meet any of my daily household needs. At times I normally blame myself for making my kids suffer. I am glad there will never suffer again because I now have the means to meet all these responsibilities
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to buy an ox. I will be hiring it during the planting season in order to earn me income. I will be digging with the neighbor's oxen so that they can also use mine on their farm. This means I will always prepare my piece of land for free. This will save me from the hectic work of digging and will increase the production because a larger area will be prepared as compared to when I could dig it by myself.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I accomplished my goal of building a kitchen. Before then, I had a grass-thatched one which had cracks. It was inconveniencing because the rains could flood the kitchen during the rainy season. I could not risk locking my valuable assets in that house because of its condition. It was not safe at all. Having a better kitchen makes me happy because I have somewhere that I can store my stuff without being worried.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the next six months is to have bought an ox. I will be tiling my neighbors land so that he can help me with his oxen to till my land too. I will never strain myself digging by myself or hire people. This will allow me to save and start a business.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Currently, I have bought a few building materials that I wish to use in building a new kitchen. My wife and children have had hard times, especially during the rainy seasons as they get rained on as they prepare our daily family meals. Sometimes, we wake up to a soaked kitchen and I am glad all these adversities are going to pass when we shall have the kitchen ready.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have any new goals currently as I want to concentrate on building a new kitchen.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Four months ago, I started buying at least two iron sheets a month using the transfers. Since I started receiving the transfers, I have has been using them to buy building materials like iron sheets, nails, poles and timber that I plan on using to build a new kitchen. This has usually been a far away dream as my family could not afford to buy them because our income only took care of our daily provision like food.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect nothing much but to build my new kitchen. I look forward to having my wife cook our meals peacefully and also my children having a place to sleep in without necessarily knocking on the neighbour's door looking for a place to spend the night when it rains.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that I currently own chairs and a goat. I managed to buy the chairs and a goat with the transfers that were sent to me by GiveDirectly. I am no longer worried whenever I have visitors around. In the past, I could always borrow seats for visitors since there were only very old, small and wooden chairs which were uncomfortable to sit on.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to build an iron-roofed kitchen in the next four months. I currently have an old grass thatched kitchen which is very small and leaks during rainy seasons. Whenever it rains, we always experience the disruption thus altering our cooking process. I can also spare some space in my new kitchen to keep poultry.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer is owning a goat. I used the transfers from GiveDirectly to buy it since I had longed to keep livestock but lacked money to buy some. I am happy that the goat I bought with the transfers has already given birth to two kids. I am hopeful that I would be able to sell my goats when they grow up to buy a dairy cow.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to start my own sugar cane farm from which I will earn more income. This will help me raise some extra money that I will use to pay school fee for my children in secondary school. For several years, I had been desiring to start sugarcane farming since it yields much.
 
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from the way it was four months ago in that I have been having peace because I have been able to meet meet my daily needs without challenges.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have an additional goal of constructing an iron-roofed kitchen in the next four months.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months preceding the transgfers is thta i have been able to afford daily meals without any challenges.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have bought a goat for rearing and as a way of future investment.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($5 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goals is that I am planning to start rearing chicken and selling them. I expect to make profit out of this business. As a result of this, I will be able to have a stable income.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different because for one I now have a cushion, something that I did not have before, and I can now sit comfortably.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months because i will be selling my chicken thereby getting a stable income.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest differencein my life currently is that I bought a seat cushion that i am currently using in my house. In as much as I bought only one, I am happy with the slight achievement.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I've faced in life is getting involved in a fatal road accident, it took four months to heal after which my boss declared me unfit to drive firing me without any benefits.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening having toiled through the day and found pay for my hardwork.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on buying a dairy cattle from which I'll get milk to sell and feed my family thereby improving their health.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I'm proudest of is successfully starting & running a small business whose proceeds enabled me buy iron sheets, a cow & food for my family.